Rocky Mountain National Park By: Jack Tobin Ben Reznick Noah Albert

 the formation of the rocks through hundreds of millions of years  the repeated uplift of the mountains by gigantic tectonic forces (Convergent forces)  millions of years of erosion by water and ice Geological Origins

 Biome – Tundra (Apline – because of the high elevation)  Climate (highland) – changes with increasing altitude  Dominant Wildlife  Trees and shrubs – coniferous, deciduous, shrubs  Exotic Plants – Crested wheatgrass, Quackgrass, Asparagus  Diatoms -  Phytoplankton  Moses and Liverworts  Lichen  Seasons – extreme differences  Winter – deep snow and high winds  Spring – Unpredictable; wet or dry, or cold or warm  Summer – Sunny mornings, afternoon thunderstorms, clear nights  Fall – decreasing precipitation, cool, crisp, and wind Natural History

Endemic Species  Amphibians: -Boreal Toad  Birds: -Least Tern -Mexican Spotted Owl -Piping Plover -Whooping Crane -Yellow-Billed Cuckoo  Fish: -Bonytail -Colorado Pickminnow -Humpback Chub -Pallad Sturgeon -Razorback Sucker  Mammals: -Canada Lynx -Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse

 Paleo-Indians have left traces of stone tools that are estimated to be 11,000 years old  In 1859, while on a hunting expedition, Joel Estes and his son discovered the meadows that eventually became Estes Park  Enos Mills moved to Estes Park in 1884 when he was 14. He wrote many books and articles and supported the creation of a national park. Human History

Threats and Cures Threats  loss of water -loss of water dependent species  loss of ice and snow -Less snow/ early melt Efforts to Alleviate  Rocky Mountain Climate Organization  Writes letters to national park service  The first was a 2006 RMCO- NRDC report focused on national parks in the western United States

 "History." NPS: Nature & Science» Geology Resources Division. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb   jpg jpg        Sources